Gaelic Language Plan Consultation: Summary

Transcription

1 Gaelic Language Plan Consultation: Summary 36 participants took part in the consultation Participants responding in Gaelic or English: Gaelic English 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Gaelic 25% 9 English 75% 27 Q1. Are you responding as a: A. Cairngorms National Park B. Member of a Gaelic organisation C. Community representative/ development D. Pupil at a Gaelic medium education school E. Teacher at a Gaelic medium education school F. Student/adult learning Gaelic G. Other public sector organisation (please specify) H. Cairngorms National Park Authority I. Other (please specify 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% A. Cairngorms National Park: resident/business tourism/business- non tourism/visitor 36% 13 B. Member of a Gaelic organisation based: within the Park / outside the Park 8% 3 C. Community representative / development officer working in the Park 0% 0 D. Pupil at a Gaelic medium education school: in the Park / outside the Park 0% 0 E. Teacher at a Gaelic medium education school: in the Park / outside the Park 3% 1 F. Student/adult learning Gaelic 14% 5 G. Other public sector organisation (please specify) 8% 3 H. Cairngorms National Park Authority board/staff member 11% 4 I. Other (please specify) 19% 7 Cairngorms National Park Authority Gaelic Language Plan Consultation

2 # OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY) 1 A Scottish citizen who visits the park often 2 Member of the public 3 Englishman 4. I work in Gaelic 5. American student 6. Moray resident living outside Park but with strong links to it 7. Town Planning consultant and father of Perth & Kinross Council's Gaelic Development Officer Q2. How best describes your ability with the Gaelic Language? No ability at all Some/limited ability Can understand but not speak, read or write Can speak, read and write Other # OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY) 1 I have a little Gaelic but I can speak, read and write. 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% A. No ability at all 42% 15 B. Some/limited ability 19% 7 C. Can understand but not speak, read or write 3% 1 D. Can speak, read and write 33% 12 E. Other 3% 1 Cairngorms National Park Authority Gaelic Language Plan Consultation

3 Q3. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements: A. Gaelic is a valuable asset to the Cairngorms National Park 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 58% 21 22% 8 6% 2 8% 3 0% 0 Don t know 6% 2 B. Gaelic helps people better understand the natural and cultural heritage of the Cairngorms National Park 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 61% 22 14% 5 6% 2 6% 2 6% 2 Don t know 8% 3 Cairngorms National Park Authority Gaelic Language Plan Consultation

4 C. Gaelic enhances the visitor experience of the Cairngorms National Park 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 50% 18 28% 10 8% 3 6% 2 0% 0 Don t know 8% 3 D. Gaelic makes a valuable contribution to the local economy 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 39% 14 25% 9 8% 3 14% 5 3% 1 Don t know 11% 4 Cairngorms National Park Authority Gaelic Language Plan Consultation

5 E. It is important the Cairngorms National Park Authority promotes Gaelic as a valuable asset in the Cairngorms National Park 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 56% 20 25% 9 3% 1 8% 3 3% 1 Don t know 6% 2 F. It is important that the Cairngorms National Park Authority can deal with public enquiries in Gaelic 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 39% 14 19% 7 8% 3 17% 6 6% 2 Don t know 11% 4 Cairngorms National Park Authority Gaelic Language Plan Consultation

6 G. The Gaelic Language Plan s core commitments are the right priorities for Cairngorms National Park Authority to focus on over the next five year period ( ) 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% 11% 4 47% 17 11% 4 8% 3 11% 4 Don t know 11% 4 H. The Gaelic Language Plan is clear and easy to understand 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 17% 6 64% 23 6% 2 0% 0 0% 0 Don t know 14% 5 Cairngorms National Park Authority Gaelic Language Plan Consultation

7 Q4. Do you have any suggestions on how we could improve our Gaelic Language Plan? # 1 - The National Park should have a Gaelic development officer to implement the plan and to deliver Gaelic services. - There should be a commitment that your bilingual logo will be used in all circumstances - The Gaelic on the National Park's logo is still far too small. - There should be more in the plan about promoting bilingual signage in the park area. - There is little about normalising/mainstreaming Gaelic in the Park s policies and strategies. - There should be a commitment that Gaelic will be part of the park's other strategies and policies (e.g. Big Park, Big Questions, Community Plans etc). - In my opinion, there is little new in this plan and it doesn t build on the provision in the previous plan as is recommended by Bòrd na Gàidhlig's guidance. 2 The plan is a bit clunky, too many differreny section and this makes it look to me as being over ambitious. 3 You have to be serious. It doesn't inspire confidence that there is a mistake in the first question in this survey (Ghàidhlig instead of Gàidhlig where it asks which language you want to use to respond). Also, on the second page here, why do you have Gael (in content supposedly in Gaelic) as a choice of ethnicity instead of Gàidheal? 4 Make Gaelic more visible to Visitors. Make opportunities for learning Gaelic more available to both visitors and residents. 5 A couple of very minor points - on page 12 you refer to your youth employment strategy - would be good to try and make a link here to next year's Year Of Young People. and on page 13 you refer to working with our Gaelic marketing officer. Can I suggest you reword as " play a key role in helping to shape and then deliver the emerging Gaelic Tourism strategy for Scotland. 6 You could have events in the community to promote and develop Gaelic. Maybe events like a Gaelic Day or a walk with a ranger through the medium of Gaelic. That would be fantastic. 7 I may have missed it but couldn't see any provision of Gaelic classes for residents - there are very few existing classes and demand is (rightly) growing. It seems an odd oversight to not provide classes for adults/residents. 8 Gaelic was the predominant language in the Highlands - mountains,hills, rivers, and place names were originally all in Gaelic and had a relevant translation-- a lot are now anglicised and we are rapidly losing the historical meaning of them all. 9 I fail to see how this plan is a wise use of a scarce commodity - taxpayers money - when UK visitors are almost entirely English speaking and overseas visitors can get by for the most part with existing signage and online translation apps. 10 Focus on place names/landscape with local walks and courses on this on regular basis to introduce visitors to the subject. 11 I want bilingual signage and communications to be designed in a way that English and Gaelic have equal status. Gaelic in a font that is small, a different colour, different style will send an implicit message of 'otherness' or 'inferiority'. If you need references for graphic design, I am sure that any National Park authority in Wales, Ireland, Trentino-Alto Adige, Catalonia, or any other bilingual place will be happy to help out. 12 You should recognise that Gaelic is a precious treasure store and the language must be made natural in different situations. If Gaelic is weaved into the business naturally that is the best way. 13 The Park should play a strong part in developing Gaelic in the area to make sure it is visible and obvious both to locals and to visitors. 14 You should employ a Gaelic officer - who is fluent in Gaelic - to promote the use of the language in the Park. 15 Implement it. Cairngorms National Park Authority Gaelic Language Plan Consultation

8 16 Gaelic will never be used unless it is taught to every child from nursery upwards. 17 Spend the money elsewhere! 18 Ensure that all residents have easy access to classes in there local area and schools. 19 It surprises me that there is no mention of, or ambition to work with, Fèis Spè in the section on art and heritage. In my opinion, this is an deficiency that should be put right. Fèis Spè arrange many events using Gaelic that would give visitors and locals the opportunity to hear Gaelic. 20 The living Doric tradition within the Park is briefly mentioned, then utterly ignored, which frankly is just not good enough; the Park must have a Plan that covers all 'tongues' spoken and addresses how an appropriate balance is to be achieved between them. Focusing on Gaelic in isolation will only cause much discontent and resentment. I want non-gaelic speakers visiting the Park, including myself, to have experiences that include Gaelic when it is appropriate, for example pronunciation and understanding of place names. But, equally, I don't want my strongly embedded Scots culture to be squashed by, and it has to be faced, a tiny majority interest. It is of particular concerns that 'loons and quines' who could add much to the visitor experience may be discriminated against in favour of Gaelic speakers when applying for Park jobs. 21 Extend the Gaelic place names leaflet to make it more comprehensive. 22 Also consider Doric for East side of National Park. Q5. Would you be interested in helping to take forward any aspects of the Gaelic Language Plan? # 1 Fèisean nan Gàidheal, for whom I work, could help with any co-operation involving Fèis Spè. 2 Unfortunately I am too busy with my own work as a Gaelic officer in the Public Sector. 3 Making the link to our emerging Gaelic Tourism Strategy 4 I would be supportive. 5 I don t live locally unfortunately. 6 No 7 No 8 No I'm too far away. However I'll visit. 9 Absolutely not. 10 No 11 Not as it stands 12 As a Ranger Service we do deliver elements of the plan. 13 Yes important part of our culture and would recommend we encourage communities to use it more. eg in their cultural heritage projects, signage etc. Cairngorms National Park Authority Gaelic Language Plan Consultation

9 Q6. Do you have any other comments on our Gaelic Language Plan? # 1 It is rather weak and there is little new in it. 2 There are some parts which are just a tag on to the Cairngorm National Park Partnership Plan This part does not explain fully how Gaelic will make a difference. 3 No overall and excellent well thought out plan 4 No 5 Our Gaelic Medium classes in both Newtonmore and Kingussie High need support as does all the Gaelic bodies within CNP--bearing in mind it IS--- Pairc Naiseanta a Mhonaidh Ruaidh-- Cairngorm is a mountain within the range that is Am Monadh Ruadh 6 I think the Gaelic Language plan is ill advised and borne of a legislative commitment by Scottish Government that should be revisited. English is an international language that most people can manage to grasp the basics. Gaelic will only serve to confuse visitors. 7 No 8 I would like to see child-friendly, perhaps interactive, Gaelic language installations in the park so that visiting children would feel encouraged to engage with the language. Perhaps basic animals, trees, plants in Gaelic & English on a placard? Or a leaflet at the visitor centre for them to take around? Both? 9 Gaelic-speakers need to be treated with dignity and respect. As an indigenous minority, offering Gaelic should be considered under the umbrella of 'accessibility'. 10 The new logo is good as it gives equal respect to Gaelic. The same thing should happen with the signs at the park borders which are shameful at the moment. I m pleased to see that there will be more co-operation with the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park - it is important that the parks be seen as hubs for the promotion and interpretation of the culture, language and heritage of the Gaels. 11 I think it's a justified plan. 12 I m sure there are more pressing issues in the Park that should be addressed. It s an outrageous waste of public money, utilised for political reasons, namely to try and differentiate Scotland from the rest of the UK. I am Scottish born and bred and object to the increasing visibility of the Gaelic language when I read signs and literature. I increasingly have to wade through a pile of Gaelic before I can find the English version, in the full knowledge that the tiny minority, who speak Gaelic, can read English perfectly well! The latest nonsensical situation was when I called Highland Council on a general matter. The lady who answered the call greeted me with a prescribed Gaelic greeting. I told her I do not speak Gaelic so had no idea what she said. She replied that she doesn t speak Gaelic either but it is part of her job description to answer the call in Gaelic! It would be hilarious but for the fact that this Scottish Government is spending my tax contribution on this nonsense! 13 I feel the Gaelic medium is inaccessible for folk in carrbridge but I am in full support of any initiative to thrust this language to those that are passionate in teaching our youth about there heritage. 14 Glad to see progress. 15 Start again, with the focus on Doric Scots as well as Gaelic and how both traditions can be celebrated within the Park and the work of the Authority 16 yes: I dont think that a high degree of bilingualism is necessary, as there are so few speakers. however, the expertise should be available so that non-gaelic speakers can access gaelic cultural elements: place names, plant names, etc. 17 I would like to see more promotion of Doric by the CNPA on East side of National Park. 18 Assume that consultation has taken place with the Local Authorities that make up the CNPA area? Cairngorms National Park Authority Gaelic Language Plan Consultation

10 Demographics Gender Female Male Prefer not to say 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% Female 42% 15 Male 44% 16 Prefer not to say 14% 5 Age Under years old years old years old years old years old years old 75+ Prefer not to say Under 16 0% years old 0% years old 17% years old 14% years old 28% years old 17% years old 11% % 0 Prefer not to say 14% 5 Cairngorms National Park Authority Gaelic Language Plan Consultation

11 Disability Yes No Prefer not to say 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Yes 3% 1 No 86% 31 Prefer not to say 11% 4 Ethnic Group White Mixed ethnic origin Prefer not to say 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% White 75% 27 Mixed or multiple ethnic groups 3% 1 Asian 0% 0 African 0% 0 Caribbean or black 0% 0 Other ethnic group 0% 0 Prefer not to say 22% 8 Nationality Scottish English Welsh Other Prefer not to say 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Scottish 53% 19 English 8% 3 Welsh 3% 1 Other 11% 4 Prefer not to say 25% 9 Cairngorms National Park Authority Gaelic Language Plan Consultation